Taking Care: Social work in healthcare

Joyce Baldrica is President and CEO of the VNA of the Treasure Coast and Nightingale Private Duty Nursing, Vero Beach-based non-profit organizations providing home healthcare, hospice care, homemaker services, companions, and transportation. To contact Joyce with your questions, feedback, or suggestions about healthcare topics you'd like to learn more about, please call 772.202.8570 or email info@vnatc.com.

When the health of a loved one declines, it is not unusual for patients and caregivers to find themselves overwhelmed with their new situation. Often times, caregivers and patients do not know where to turn for answers or fully understand what resources are available to them within their community. It is because of situations likes these that social workers play a vital role in the healthcare industry. Social workers help individuals and families cope with the social, psychological, and medical issues resulting from an illness. They become advocates for patients and their families and can provide assistance to help improve the quality of life.

Some of the responsibilities of a social worker can include the following:

• Helping plan for post-hospital needs. Many patients require in-home care after leaving the hospital and can receive this through a home healthcare agency. Many home health agencies employ social workers to help their patients and families with their care.

• Arranging for services at facilities. The social worker can reach out to local facilities on behalf of the patient or family.

• Assessing the environmental risks factors for a patient. It is imperative that a patient's home environment allows for the patient to stay safe. A social worker can point out potential risk factors in a home and assist with providing solutions to remedy those risks.

• Connecting patients and families with local resources. Social workers bring together patients and families with various local organizations and resources within the community.

• Assistance with advance directives and long-term care concerns. For many, thinking about long-term and end-of-life care can be difficult. A social worker can help families and patients plan their long-term care by providing local options that are available and explaining the purpose and role of an advance directive.

Many home health agencies employ the services of social workers to better serve patients and their families. As a result, a home health agency will do a background check on the social worker to ensure that the necessary credentials and certifications are met. However, if you seek individual help of a social worker outside of an agency, research what credentials are required in your state to ensure that you are hiring someone with updated qualifications.

If you or someone you are caring for requires the assistance of a social worker, call us at 772.202.8570 or visit www.vnatc.com.

Joyce Baldrica is president and CEO of the VNA of the Treasure Coast and Nightingale Private Duty Nursing, Vero Beach-based non-profit organizations providing home healthcare, hospice care, homemaker services, companions, and transportation. To contact her with your questions, feedback, or suggestions about healthcare topics you'd like to learn more about, please call 772 202-8570 or email info@vnatc.com.

This story is contributed by a member of the community and is neither endorsed nor affiliated with TCPalm.